Fire agencies receive funds for radios

by Chaz Holmes<br>Herald Staff Writer
| November 30, 2006 8:00 PM

COLUMBIA BASIN — Christmas comes early this year for sixteen Grant County fire agencies as they share a federal grant worth almost $600,000.

The money was provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and gives agencies the means for necessary communications upgrades.

Shane Heston, fire chief of Grant County Fire District #13 wrote the grant with Leonard Johnson and Kyle Forman, also from Grant County fire agencies, after deciding there is a need for new radio equipment.

Heston and Johnson said in the coming years the fire agencies' communications equipment must be compliant with mandates of the Federal Communications Commission. This requires narrowband capability, which splits communication channels in order to allow more frequencies. Johnson said the Grant County Multi Agency Communications Center, which dispatches calls for the agencies, is in the process of upgrading its radio system to meet the federal requirements.

"So the reason we applied for the grant is we want to be ready to be able to go straight on to that system without having to have in-between issues. We wanted to get a seamless transition," said Johnson. "We're all going to be ready to go at the same time."

While ramping up to regulations, the agencies should have clearer and more efficient lines of communication.

Heston said the main benefit is having compatible equipment everyone can hear. This is an improvement in clarity, quality, efficiency and effectiveness, he said.

"Everybody's going to have reliable tone and voice pagers. That's really important because that's what the volunteers wear to get people to the stations," Heston added.

The next step is deciding which makers to buy equipment from.

The agencies received $325,900 for mobile radios and fire apparatus, $199,750 for handheld portable radios, $22,000 for base station radios for the fire stations and $193,200 for tone and voice pagers. The total cost of the project is $740,850 after a 20% matching by fire agencies. The federal funding totals $592,398.

Heston thanks Grant County fire agencies for their cooperation, Rep. Bill Hinkle, Rep. Doc Hastings, Rep. Jenea Holmquist and Sen. Maria Cantwell, all who wrote a letter of support.